A parent's perspective
I returned to work today after a rather pleasant fortnight at home with the family (happy Christmas and New Ear, everyone), completely insulated from current events, to discover that the Middle East has exploded again. Given that international politics is rather like a primary school playing field, here's what I want to say to the obnoxious children currently involved in unequal yet enthusiastic combat:
JUST FUCKING STOP IT AND GROW UP, THE PAIR OF YOU. I don't care who bombed whom first. I don't care that he snatched your town and won't give it back. I don't want to know why you are beating each other up again. I don't care that your tanks are bigger than his tanks. I don't care that God is on your side... oh, and yours, and maybe his as well.
You! Stop invading his country.
You! Stop shooting rockets at his country.
Just stop it.
Whoever fires the next artillery round gets to sit in the naughty corner until you've calmed down.
No. Shut up. Not interested. Just. Shut. Up. And. Stop. Killing. Each. Other.
...
OK. You, to your room. Shut the door. No sweets.
You, to your room. Go to bed. No supper.
Now, I'm going to watch TV while you both throw your tantrums. Good night.
JUST FUCKING STOP IT AND GROW UP, THE PAIR OF YOU. I don't care who bombed whom first. I don't care that he snatched your town and won't give it back. I don't want to know why you are beating each other up again. I don't care that your tanks are bigger than his tanks. I don't care that God is on your side... oh, and yours, and maybe his as well.
You! Stop invading his country.
You! Stop shooting rockets at his country.
Just stop it.
Whoever fires the next artillery round gets to sit in the naughty corner until you've calmed down.
No. Shut up. Not interested. Just. Shut. Up. And. Stop. Killing. Each. Other.
...
OK. You, to your room. Shut the door. No sweets.
You, to your room. Go to bed. No supper.
Now, I'm going to watch TV while you both throw your tantrums. Good night.